No. 29 of 2015 - ENHANCEMENT TO THE SEAFARER CERTIFICATION SYSTEM

MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

SHIPPING CIRCULAR TO SHIPOWNERS

NO 29 OF 2015

MPA Shipping Division

460 Alexandra Road

#21-00, PSA Building

Singapore 119963

E-mail : coc@mpa.gov.sg

http://www.mpa.gov.sg

1 Dec 2015

Applicable to: Shipowners, ship managers, holders of certificates of competency

and endorsements issued by Singapore, crew and masters of Singapore ships and

the shipping community.

ENHANCEMENT TO THE SEAFARER CERTIFICATION SYSTEM

1 This circular highlights an additional enhancement to the Seafarer Certification

System to certificates of competency (COC), certificates of proficiency (COP), tanker

endorsements and other certificates issued by the Authority. The enhancement is

inclusion of QR (Quick Response) code to facilitate authentication of certificates issued

to seafarers, using QR enabled devices (e.g. mobile phones) to bring about

administrative convenience to the shipping community.

2 Certificates with QR enhancement was implemented from 4 November 2015.

Samples of revised certificates templates of COP and COC depicting the position of QR

Code are attached in Annex.

VALIDITY OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED

3 All COC, COP, tanker endorsements, and other certificates issued by MPA prior

to 4 Nov 2015 (without the QR code) will continue to be valid until its period of expiry

stated on them.

QUERIES

4 Any queries relating to this circular should be addressed to Capt I G

Sangameswar (Tel no. 6375 6205) or Capt Khoo Gek Hung (Tel no. 6375 1935) or Mr

Zulfiqur Husain (Tel no 6375 6218).

TAN SUAN JOW

DIRECTOR OF MARINE

MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

Page 1 of 7

Annex: Details of A4-size COPs

QR Code

MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

Merchant Shipping Act (Chapter 179)

Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Manning) Regulations

Certificate of Proficiency No.--XXXXXXXXXXXX--

CERTIFICATE XXXXXXXX

Issued under the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training,

Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.

This is to certify that

XXXX

has satisfied the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Manning)

Regulations and Regulation XXX of the above convention.

Expiry date: Nil

Issued on XX

Printed

MPA’s

Stamp

TAN SUAN JOW

DIRECTOR OF MARINE

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

Electronic

Image of

Signature

Date of birth of the holder : XXXX

Photo

Country of birth of the holder : XXXX

IC/Passport No. : XXXX

Signature of the holder : _______________________

Remarks:

Embossed Stamp on

XXXX

original Certificate

Note:

The certificate in its original form must be kept available on board while serving on a ship.

Any person other than the holder coming in possession of this document is requested to send it to the Director of Marine, Maritime and Port

Authority of Singapore, 460 Alexandra Road, #21-00 PSA Building, Singapore 119963.

The authenticity of this document can be verified at website address: http://www.mpa.gov.sg, or using QR code.

Page 2 of 7

Annex: Details of COC booklets

MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

Merchant Shipping Act (Chapter 179)

Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Manning) Regulations

CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY CERTIFICATE NO.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX

This is to certify that

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

has been found duly qualified to hold this Certificate of Competency

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

and is entitled under the Merchant Shipping Act (Cap 179) to serve in a merchant ship

in any capacity requiring a certificate of competency of that class save that the holder

must have additional training and service, where such is a requirement in accordance

with the above Regulations.

Date of Issue: XXXXXXXX TAN SUAN JOW

----------------------------------

Director of Marine

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

Page 3 of 7

ENDORSEMENT ATTESTING THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE UNDER

THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON

STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING

FOR SEAFARERS, 1978, AS AMENDED.

The Government of Singapore certifies that the present certificate has been issued to

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

who has been found duly qualified in accordance with the provisions of regulation(s)

XX of the above Convention, as amended, and has been found competent to perform

the following functions, at the levels specified, subject to any limitations indicated

until XXXXXXXX or until the date of expiry of any extension of the

validity of this endorsement issued by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

____________________________

FUNCTION and LEVEL1 LIMITATIONS1

XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

The lawful holder of this endorsement may serve in the following capacity or capacities

specified in the applicable safe manning requirement of the administration:

CAPACITY LIMITATIONS APPLYING (IF

ANY)1

XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

Endorsement No.: XXXXXXXX

Date of Issue: XXXXXXXX Director of Marine

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

Page 4 of 7

PARTICULARS OF HOLDER

P hoto Country of Birth

XXXXXXXX

Date of Birth

XXXXXXXX

Qualifying Conditions Met on

XXXXXXXX

____________________________

Signature of Holder

This certificate in its original form must be kept on board while serving on a ship.

Remarks:

Page 5 of 7

Remarks on Trading area limitations:

Singapore ‘Home Trade Limit’ and ‘Special Limit’ applies to certain types of Certificates as indicated in the

limitations. Demarcations of Home Trade Limits and Special Limits, please see map below:

Remarks:

Blank for future use /endorsement

Page 6 of 7

FUNCTIONS:

As identified in the tables of standards of competence given in Chapters II, III and IV of Part A of the

STCW Code.

1 Navigation

2 Cargo handling and stowage

3 Controlling the operation of the ship and care for persons on board

4 Marine Engineering

5 Electrical, electronic and control engineering

6 Maintenance and repair

7 Radio communications

QR Code

(Last Cover page)

Notes:

(1) The validity of this certificate’s endorsement (if expired) can be extended in a separate endorsement,

duly issued by the Director of Marine, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

(2) The authenticity of this document can be verified at website address: http://www.mpa.gov.sg

(3) The holder of this certificate of competency may continue to serve onboard merchant ships in a

lower officer rank than that to which this certificate permits after the expiry date indicated herein (or

after the date of expiry of any extension of the validity of this certificate of competency issued by

the Director of Marine, Maritime and Port authority of Singapore) for the purpose of revalidation.

(4) Attention is drawn to the provision of the law whereby the fraudulent use and forgery, or alteration

of this document will constitute a criminal offence.

(5) Any person other than the authorised holder of this certificate coming into possession of this

document is requested to send it to the Director of Marine, Maritime and Port Authority of

Singapore, 460 Alexandra Road, #21-00 PSA Building, Singapore 119963.

(6) Please address any queries other than as in (2) above to: coc@mpa.gov.sg

Page 7 of 7